City of Troy to prove too good in 2,000 Guineas
CITY Of Troy can win the first Classic of the season, the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas Stakes (No Geldings) (British Champions Series) (3.35pm)at Newmarket today. While stable-mate Ylang Ylang can win the second Classic, the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas (Fillies) (British Champions Series) (3.40pm) back at Newmarket tomorrow afternoon.
Aidan O’Brien’s latest superstar can continue his unbeaten run and set up a potential Triple Crown campaign with victory in the Group One feature of the opening day at Headquarters.
City Of Troy may not really be a betting proposition for your average small stakes punter, but it is hard to recommend anything to beat him.
He looks almost bombproof with form of the hightest order as a juvenile and his master trainer talking about him as among the best he’s ever had.
And although he has waxed lyrical – with plenty of substance about past Ballydoyle superstars – the son of the 13th American Triple Crown winner Justify appears much more than just hype. Talk of him being the stable’s ‘Frankel’ is high praise given the former Henry Cecil-trained star was one of the best there’s ever been on the Flat.
But the regally-bred City Of Troy has been spectacular in his three career starts as a juvenile last year.
A maiden win at the Curragh in July was followed just two weeks later by an astonishing victory in the seven-furlong Group Two Superlative Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting.
He scored impressively by six-and-ahalf lengths under Ryan Moore, beating recent Craven Stakes hero Haatem comfortably.
He missed the National Stakes due to concerns over the ground but came back to land the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in the autumn in similarly impressive fashion.
That seven-furlong contest has been traditionally the best juvenile trial for the Guineas with the likes of Frankel and Dawn Approach and other former Ballydoyle stars such as Rock Of Gibraltar and Churchill winning the race before going on to Classic glory the following year.
City Of Troy can follow in their hoofprints to win the mile Colts’ Classic and set up cracks at the Derby and St Leger to try and give his owners, the Coolmore operation, their Holy Grail of the British Triple Crown. Richard Hannon’s Rosallion – who won the Group One Qatar Prix JeanLuc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp last October – and the Clive Cox’s unbeaten Clive Ghostwriter –who won the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes over course and distance last September – should go well but barring a major upset City Of Troy should easily triumph.
Cox’s Kerdos may be able to land the Group Three William Hill Palace House Stakes (2.55pm).
The four-year-old remains open to improvement and having been second in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot last year, he won the Listed Beverley Bullet in good style.
He ran well enough to be eighth in the Group One Prix de l’Abbaye later last season, but he is probably more at home at this sort of level for the time being.
He was again eighth on his seasonal return in a handicap at Bath last month and with that run under his belt he may be able to continue his progress and land a first success in Group company.
David O’Meara’s Theoryofeverything can win the William Hill Suffolk Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (2.20pm).
A winner on his debut when trained by John and Thady Gosden at Doncaster in April last year, the four-year-old gelded son of Frankel lost his way after that.
But he was snapped up for 55,000 guineas at the end of last year and made a pleasing debut for O’Meara when fourth to the reopposing Hafeet Alain over course and distance.
He was beaten less than a length and on revised terms on what looks a good handicap mark, he can finally resume the progress he had shown earlier in his career.
Charlie Johnston’s Knightswood can go one better than when second on his seasonal return at Ripon last week with victory in the William Hill Epic Boost Handicap (4.10pm).
Karl Burke’s Aleezdancer – who was a good third in a six-furlong handicap at Doncaster in March – may improve to win the William Hill Extra Place Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (1.45pm).
Others who can triumph at Newmarket this afternoon are Charlie Appleby’s Star Guest in the Listed William Hill British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes (Formerly The Kilvington Stakes) (Fillies & Mares) (1.10pm); the Michael Appleby-trained Shagraan in the William Hill Bet In-Running Handicap (4.45pm); Jungle Mac – from the Jack Channon stable – in the William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive “Confined” Handicap (Which Have Won No More Than One Race) (5.15pm); and Farasi Lane, who is trained by Grand National winner Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole, in the finale, the HJKC World Pool Handicap (5.50pm).
Tomorrow at Newmarket Ylang Ylang can win the Group One QIPCO 1,000 Guineas Stakes (3.40pm) and bring up the Classic double O’Brien has previously achieved in 2005, 2012, 2017 and 2019. The three-year-old daughter of Frankel won three of her five juvenile starts culminating in a fine victory of the Group One bet365 Fillies’ Mile over course and distance in soft conditions in October last year.
She looks sure to get further in time but can score again over a mile before a potential crack at the Classic double in next month’s Betfred Oaks at Epsom. Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel rates the biggest danger to Ylang Ylang and the Richard Hannon-trained Star Style is an outsider who could run into a place.
Away from the 1,000 Guineas it could be a good day for Godolphin trainer Appleby and jockey Buick. They could have a treble with Meydan scorer Silver Lady in the Group Two William Hill Dahlia Stakes (Fillies & Mares) (2.25pm); Galileo three-year-old filly Winter Snowfall in the Listed William Hill Pretty Polly Stakes (Fillies) (1.50pm); and debutant Mountain Breeze in the Tattersalls £40,000 EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (4.15pm).